The restrictions on international passenger flights will continue till March 31, Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA has said.

"The competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hours IST of 31st March, 2021," the aviation body said.

The restrictions will not apply to international cargo operations and flights specially approved by DGCA.

"However, International Scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," it added.

The restrictions on international passenger flights were imposed in March last year to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The domestic flights were resumed last year in May and gradually restrictions were eased. Controls were also relaxed in various sectors but the curbs of international flights have continued.

In December last year, flights to and from UK were banned after a highly infectious strain of coronavirus emerged there. The ban was lifted later lifted.

(IBNS)